19-year-old Georgia deputy killed in two-car wreck while on duty

A 19-year-old Glascock County deputy died in a car wreck Tuesday, authorities confirmed.

Deputy Joshua Ryer Jr. of Gibson was on duty when he was killed in a two-car crash on Spring Street and Andrew Drive in Washington, the Georgia State Patrol said. He had only graduated from the police training program at Augusta Technical College about six months ago, according to Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council records.

Ryer’s vehicle was headed westbound on Andrew Drive, while another car was traveling northbound on Ga. 47. Ryer failed to stop at the stop sign, and the front of his vehicle hit the other car, causing both to travel more than 60 feet from the area of impact, GSP said.

A woman in the other car was taken to Augusta University Medical Center, Augusta-based news station WJBF reported. Her condition was not provided.

“Please be in prayer for the sheriff’s office as we mourn the loss of one of our beloved sheriff’s deputies,” Glascock County Sheriff Jeremy Kelly posted on Facebook. “For the rest of the week, the office will be closed.”

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The Wilkes County Emergency Services Facebook page posted a statement on the incident, which said, in part:

“Wilkes County EMS/EMA extends our deepest sympathy to the Glascock County Sheriff Department with the loss of Deputy Joshua Ryer, Jr. Deputy Ryer, who was only 19, was killed in our county today while on duty. ... Please join us in extending sympathy to his family and work family.”

AJC.com has reached out to the Glascock County Sheriff’s Office for more information.

Gibson, which is the county seat of Glascock County, is about 125 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.